Winter 2007 Fly Swap

[BillyBlanks]

Hey All:

The cold is starting to set in, and the fishing starting to slow down......so the time has come for another fly swap. We were thinking 12 tiers, each person picks a pattern. Once we have 12 people lined up we can work out the details and deadlines. So who's interested and what will you be tying?? I'll twist up 12 of Gartside's Gurglers.

[ThrowingTimber]

I'm in for some flatwings

Had to Op Out.

Sorry.

Netx time maybe?

[BillyBlanks]

Nice......we're off to a good start:

1. BillyBlanks
2. Throwingtimber
3. NEWENGLAND
4. NEWENGLAND (2)


Who else is in?!?!

[buckmanjr]

Ill make up some clousers.

[saltfly]

Ill tie up a dozen shrimp for the flats.The bass couldn't pass'm by

[stripercrazy]

I'll tie some decevers

[BillyBlanks]

Nice! We're up to 7 already. Here is where we stand:

1) BillyBlanks - Gartside Gurglers
2) ThrowingTimber - Flatwings
3) NewEngland - Surf Smurfs
4) NewEngland (2) - Poppers
5) BuckmanJr - Clausers
6) Saltfly - Shrimp
7) StriperCrazy - Deceivers

Salt.....wish I had some of your shrimp for next week. I'm off to Florida to fish for Snook. Those things work wonders down there. I've got a few different patters I'm going to try but nothing beats the real thing on a light weight spinning rod.

[ThrowingTimber]

Billy ATG is in Florida right now so I dont think he's seen this. Put him down for the swap as well I'm sure he would want to be included. If he can't for whatever reason, I'll tie up a second dozen in a diff. pattern

[saltfly]

Originally Posted by BillyBlanks

Nice! We're up to 7 already. Here is where we stand:

1) BillyBlanks - Gartside Gurglers
2) ThrowingTimber - Flatwings
3) NewEngland - Surf Smurfs
4) NewEngland (2) - Poppers
5) BuckmanJr - Clausers
6) Saltfly - Shrimp
7) StriperCrazy - Deceivers

Salt.....wish I had some of your shrimp for next week. I'm off to Florida to fish for Snook. Those things work wonders down there. I've got a few different patters I'm going to try but nothing beats the real thing on a light weight spinning rod.

A friend of mine is a guide down there and fishes the west side.If you want his # let me know.He's been fishing the beaches and doing quite well

[BillyBlanks]

Thanks for the heads up Salt. Unfortunately I'll be on the East Coast. I've fished there a few times so I should be able to find something to catch. There's plenty of snook and lady fish to keep me busy on the fly. ATG is in.....just let me know what he will be tying so we can post it up, but regardless we'll save a spot for him.

[ThrowingTimber]

I know he's heavy into crease flies so maybe pencil him in for those? If he switches to something else we can always put him down for whatever he decides to tie up, no?

[BillyBlanks]

You got it Timber.....crease flies it is. Who else is in? Still have plenty of room!

[denis]

O.K. count me in for some Well Diggers

[BillyBlanks]

1) BillyBlanks - Gartside Gurglers
2) ThrowingTimber - Flatwings
3) NewEngland - Surf Smurfs
4) NewEngland (2) - Poppers
5) BuckmanJr - Clausers
6) Saltfly - Shrimp
7) StriperCrazy - Deceivers
8) ATG - Crease Flies (or other)
9) Denis - Well Diggers

We are in pretty good shape, just need a few more and we can close it out. Who else is interested???

[ThrowingTimber]

What do we need like 3 more?

[tynan19]

I'm in if Timber is tying my dozen as well j/k.. Maybe ez-body sand eel pattern.

[BillyBlanks]

Two more spots left......
1) BillyBlanks - Gartside Gurglers
2) ThrowingTimber - Flatwings
3) NewEngland - Surf Smurfs
4) NewEngland (2) - Poppers
5) BuckmanJr - Clausers
6) Saltfly - Shrimp
7) StriperCrazy - Deceivers
8) ATG - Crease Flies (or other)
9) Denis - Well Diggers
10) Tynan19 - Ez-body sand eels

[striperman36]

Originally Posted by BillyBlanks

Two more spots left......
1) BillyBlanks - Gartside Gurglers
2) ThrowingTimber - Flatwings
3) NewEngland - Surf Smurfs
4) NewEngland (2) - Poppers
5) BuckmanJr - Clausers
6) Saltfly - Shrimp
7) StriperCrazy - Deceivers
8) ATG - Crease Flies (or other)
9) Denis - Well Diggers
10) Tynan19 - Ez-body sand eels

I'll do albie mushmouths

[BillyBlanks]

1) BillyBlanks - Gartside Gurglers
2) ThrowingTimber - Flatwings
3) NewEngland - Surf Smurfs
4) NewEngland (2) - Poppers
5) BuckmanJr - Clausers
6) Saltfly - Shrimp
7) StriperCrazy - Deceivers
8) ATG - Crease Flies (or other)
9) Denis - Well Diggers
10) Tynan19 - Ez-body sand eels
11) Striperman36 - Albie Mushmouths

One more and we can close it out.......

[BillyBlanks]

There's got to be one more guy on this site that can tie up some nice flies......

[cb2fly]

OK, Billy I'm in, how about a small squid fly that has worked in the past?

[BillyBlanks]

1) BillyBlanks - Gartside Gurglers
2) ThrowingTimber - Flatwings
3) NewEngland - Surf Smurfs
4) NewEngland (2) - Poppers
5) BuckmanJr - Clausers
6) Saltfly - Shrimp
7) StriperCrazy - Deceivers
8) ATG - Crease Flies (or other)
9) Denis - Well Diggers
10) Tynan19 - Ez-body sand eels
11) Striperman36 - Albie Mushmouths
12) Cb2fly - Squid Flies

Consider this swap closed!!!

New proposition: In past fly swaps we have also included a "mystery fly" Each tier includes one of these (whatever pattern you'd like to tie) and when I send back your packages I will mix these up so each person will get one back. Everyone game for that?

Rules from a previous swap (just for a guideline):

1. A dozen tyers is about the perfect size.
2. A swap should be proposed by someone willing to act as the Swapmaster.
3. The Swapmaster should keep track of all tyers who commit to participating and when 12 are signed up, "close" the swap to new participants.
4. The Swapmaster should then post a list of who's in, what they've committed to tie, and what the deadline is.
5. Swaps are supposed to be fun, so deadlines should be realistic -- at least a month away from the time the swap is closed in most cases.
6. Flies should be mailed in large, rigid envelopes. The perfect way to ship flies into the Swapmaster is to put them in a plastic, inexpensive flybox with the tyer's Reel-Time name and real name printed on it. Include a return envelope in the package, with your return address on it, and the same amount of postage as was required to ship your flies to the swapmaster. (shipping fly boxes is a great idea, mainly because it insures that no hooks will poke through the paper envelopes and impale some poor postal worker, be sure to write your name on the box though!)
7. Make sure the return envelope is big enough to accomodate large flies! It's a shame for the swapmaster to have cram other tyers' work into a small envelope. Some flies are quite long, have delicate tails, and need lots of room.
8. It's a nice gesture to include some information about the pattern you've tied, a receipe, etc.
9. Some tyers put each fly into its own plastic sleeve.
10. Include an extra fly for the swapmaster as a courtesy, not mandatory, but a nice touch.
11. Try to make the deadline.
12. Put your screen name on the outside of the envelope when you ship it to the swapmaster.
13. Make an effort to show off your best work. Don't rush. Tying a dozen of the same pattern can be tedious, so don't do it all at once unless you're really determined or an efficient tyer. Try to tie something unique. Swaps are a great way to receive patterns you might never consider. That's not to say that a Deceiver/Clouser/common pattern isn't appreciated.

For the Swapmaster
1. Keep the swap informed by posting a thread with the subject line "SWAP [whatever title] Update." Spell out who's in, what they are tying, and any news.
2. Post a reminder a week before the deadline.
3. Post a list of what flies you've received as they arrive.
4. Keep the flies in their original envelopes in a safe place. I would recommend not opening any envelopes until they have all arrived.
5. When all the flies have arrived, find a big open space -- like a clear kitchen or dining room table and put down 12 pieces of 8.5x11 paper.
6. Write each tyers Reel-Time name and real name on the bottom of each piece of paper.
7. Open the envelopes and carefully put each tyers contribution on their sheet of paper.
8. Keep the return envelopes in a stack.
9. Distribute the flies, one set at a time, between the 12 sheets of paper.
10. When they are all distributed. Carefully collect the flies and place them in the receipient's fly box, sheet of foam, cardboard or whatever. Place that in the return envelope. DO NOT SEAL YET.
11. When all the return envelopes (11, the 12th being you, the swapmaster) are filled, check to see if there are any flies remaining to be sorted. If not, and if you think everything is good to go: seal the envelopes.
12. Take the bundle to the post office, mail it, and post a message saying the swap is in the mail. A photo of the set with a key to who tied what is a nice touch.


So deadline......lets say all flies should be to me Sunday January 5th. If this is an issue with anyone please let me know. And please, please don't be late. It will delay the entire swap (no one wants to be "that guy").

Ok enough said.......let's get to tying.

[denis]

Billy

Flies are in the mail.

[BillyBlanks]

Thanks Denis, you're the first. I'll let you know when they come in.

[BillyBlanks]

Denis - Just got your flies. Very nice work my friend. Looking forward to tossing these around come spring.

How is everyone else doing? The board has been dead lately. Still on time?

As you finish up PM me and I can send over my adress.

Happy Holidays everyone!

[saltfly]

You'll get mine right around the 1st.

[tynan19]

Mine are done. Will be mailed tomorrow. Are we doing the mystery fly, I will put one in. We should send 12 of ours correct and then you send one of ours back correct with the set?

[BillyBlanks]

Sounds good Tynan, and yup we're doing a mystery fly.

[BillyBlanks]

The swap is due to close tommorow and so far I have flies from:

Denis

Tynan - in mail

Anyone else?